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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Flume, NH
Trails
Trails: Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, bike path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 7, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Spotted a car at Basin, lots of parking. Spotted 2nd car at OBP / Falling Waters which was maybe 1/4 full at 8:30am (it was a cold day). 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All easy peasy 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No issues up Old Bridal Path. Little Haystack to Liberty section is a carwash first and foremost, but also several blowdowns you have to crawl under esp. if leggy (somewhere there is an orangutan with my legs). A blowdown or two Liberty to Flume but nothing notable. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Lots of nice dogs up on the ridge having a great time. However: descending Liberty we encountered an unrestrained and very aggressive dog not at all controlled by its owner. He couldn't have cared less about calling the dog off as it challenged both of us. They were on the way up at that point. As we descended Liberty Springs Trail the dog ran up behind, barked once, and bit Nora's backpack putting a hole in it. That would have been her were it not for the pack. The guy ran past without a word. I realize the likelihood of you reading this is minimal but WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, JERK!? If I ever see you and that hazard out on the trail again I'm posting a your pic here and also sending to the Forest Service in case someone does get bitten and files a report. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Ok, aside from one POS dog owner it was a wonderful day on the ridge. Old Bridal Path is hardpack and spikes will do nicely. Above the hut we stayed stuck to the trail with spikes no problem. Crossing the ridge over to Little Haystack (is there a _Big_ Haystack lurking somewhere?) there are a few spots where the spikes don't want to stick and you have to be pretty careful descending. Little Haystack to Liberty is soft snow and you need snowshoes period. It's also a carwash and crawlspace as mentioned above. Enjoy! Liberty to Flume as has been reported elsewhere is pretty packed out. Little bit soft in and around the col. We kept the shoes on, but it didn't look like there was a lot of postholing from folks in spikes.

The warmer conditions over the next days will probably not affect Old Bridal Path much, it is freaking concrete, but the Liberty-Flume stretch might need snowshoes after a bit.  
Name
Name: Muench, Nora 
E-Mail
E-Mail: erik.coder@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-03-07 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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